Paralympian Sarah Baker to be inducted into Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame

Born in Halifax, Sarah Baker lived in Clayton Park, attended Fairview Junior High and Halifax West and excelled in athletics.

It’s going to be quite an 88th birthday celebration for Sarah Baker’s mother in Herring Cove.

Baker, a multi-sport Paralympic medalist who now lives in New Zealand, will be inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in Halifax this November, and family are coming from near and far to share in the double-celebration.

“Am all booked and we’re going to be able to have a celebration of mum’s 88th birthday a few days after I arrive, so bonus for me … and for her,” she said in an email.

Baker, 57, lost both her legs in her teens. She went on to win medals in swimming, javelin and wheelchair basketball. She won gold in javelin and discus and bronze in swimming at the 1980 Para Pan American Games. She holds multiple Para Pan Am medals, a world record in javelin and is recognized as one of the greatest wheelchair multi-sport athletes of all time.

Born in Halifax, the fourth daughter of Olga Elizabeth Davis originally of Hazel Hill, Guysborough County and Creighton Cutler Baker, originally from Yarmouth.

She spent her first 13 years in San Diego, Calif., moving back to Nova Scotia with her mother and a sister after her parents divorced. Her two older sisters remained in California.

She lived in Clayton Park, attended Fairview Junior High and Halifax West and excelled in athletics.

“Sport was always a part of our life in San Diego, and I was very athletic,” said Baker. “My father was a runner/jogger and often competed in weekend runs, ran daily, and at one stage in our childhood, had all his four girls decked out in Puma shoes, same shorts and same tops, and we were the Baker girl running team.”

She was diagnosed as a diabetic at age eight, so sports activities were considered an essential part of staying healthy.

“I played basketball and volleyball and field hockey for Fairview Junior High, and so sport was a big part of my life. I happened to be good at it too, good strong body, and it was natural for me to be involved.”

She lost both her legs after contracting meningicoccal septicaemia and fighting the battle of her life.

“Was quite something at the time the way the people of Halifax stepped up to save my life, and though my lower legs could not be saved, I was very much alive and kicking as a result of so many people’s efforts.”

Although she did not know it at the time, she may have contracted it as a result of sharing drink bottles with her teammates.

“It wasn’t commonly talked about in that era in Nova Scotia, but is talked about a lot here in New Zealand, ways to avoid it, and I’m clear now that if the knowledge had been available at the time, I would not have contracted that.”

After Baker lost her legs and while still in hospital, IWK physiotherapist Wendy Oliver took her under her wing. She drove Baker to Stadacona gym, where the Nova Scotia Flying Wheels, a wheelchair basketball team, was having a practice session.

“She knew all about my background, and realized that this would be a great thing for me to become involved in. I was still fairly unwell, but starting to get my old self back, and I loved every little thing about wheelchair ball. It was made for me.”

At that stage, she hadn't even been fitted for her first pair of artificial limbs, and was so happy to be among other people who had disabilities.

“It was the best thing for me to be able to spend time with folk, where I didn’t feel like the odd one out. It was game over really, I just took it and ran.”

She got healthier, got new legs, and had a bunch of teammates and coaches that made her feel like she was one of them, and needed, because she had the background in basketball.

“I was a natural. Being involved in sport for the disabled, took care of my social needs, as well as my need to become physically able again.”

News of her hall of fame induction has caused a bit of a stir in her New Zealand world, where she has lived for more than 30 years.

“Interestingly enough, New Zealand, where I now live, is very excited for me about this news as well, there's a lot of my background from that time, that folk knew nothing about here. I walk with artificial limbs, and many didn't even know I was an amputee, and knew very little about my sporting background. I had never intentionally not told people, just guess I never gave many the full story.”

Baker, who also survived breast cancer, lives in Ahaura, N.Z., with her husband Ian Horner. They have 80 acres and hobby farm cattle, a few sheep, dogs and some chickens. Ian had a daughter from a previous marriage and they had two sons together. She has four grandchildren.

She works part-time at a local school as a teacher's aid and in the library as well as tending to a vegetable garden.

She has travelled back to Nova Scotia every two years since her move to the southern hemisphere.

Her para-athletic career spanned from 1976 to 1984 and her training included a few practices weekly with the Nova Scotia Flying Wheels, and swimming at Dalplex.

“So I had a combination of sports happening at one time. It was possible in those days to do that — I don't think it's done so much that way anymore — allowing disabled athletes to really focus on their chosen sport, and become top. It was all good for me though, and basically we trained five days a week, sometimes six depending on the event that was coming up.”

She studied at Dalhousie, where she also worked to support her studies and independent living.

She later went on to work for Marcil Trust Company in downtown Halifax.

“Marcil became another wonderful addition to my life, adding social and workmates, that added a lot to me feeling confident about myself and my abilities. “

She recalls the Pan American Games in Halifax in August 1982 as a career high.

She travelled to Ottawa to receive the Games torch from the then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau, and travelled back with it and presented it to then Nova Scotia premier John Buchanan to open the event.

“We had an amazing run, and managed to get into the final wheelchair basketball match against the U.S.A., and lost by only a point,” she said.

“It was the best feeling to have a great crowd of Nova Scotians in the audience, cheering the Canadian girl's team on. I was very proud to be a part of that girl's team, knowing it was a Canadian team. They were and are a great bunch, and I keep in touch with many of them still.”